Most parents have instilled in their children the value of saying thank you by the time they reach elementary school, if not earlier. But how many have actually taught kids how to be grateful?
It’s simple to thank Grandma for a sweater. The harder challenge is convincing kids that receiving a sweater rather than a toy is a good thing. Here’s where thankfulness comes into play.
Children (and adults) can benefit from a sense of Thankfulness in a variety of ways. It contains stress-relieving properties as well as other vital emotional health advantages. When a person feels appreciative, he or she spends less time comparing and feeling envious of others. It also allows people, particularly children, to put themselves in another’s shoes and recognise that someone did something wonderful for them even if they didn’t have to. You may teach your children gratitude in the same way you teach them to read and write.
When toddlers and preschoolers get a gift or kindness from another person, they should be taught to say thank you. Modelling is very important for children of this age. Here are certain ways through which you can teach the importance of Thankfulness to your children.
1. Teach them to be Vocal
Encourage your child to express his or her gratitude on a frequent basis. “Your brother let you go first,” for example, is a friendly reminder. “What do you say to Grandpa because he gave you a cookie?”
While it may appear that imposing a “thank you” doesn’t elicit genuine gratitude, think of it as a starting step. It can assist children in learning to realise when others have given them something, whether physical like a gift or intangible like time. Even if it doesn’t look like genuine appreciation when your child requires a reminder, encouraging them to verbally express appreciation can prove to be a significant learning tool for genuine gratitude down the line. Even if it doesn’t appear to be true thanks when your child needs a reminder, allowing them to vocally express gratitude can be a valuable learning tool for genuine gratitude later on.
You can also urge your children to write “thank you” notes to those who have given them presents or treated them well. Your child may choose to colour a picture for a grandmother who bought them a birthday present. Alternatively, you may encourage your kid to write a “thank you” note to a special coach who has influenced their lives.
2. Ask Question Of Thankfulness
When your youngster remembers to say “thank you” on a daily basis, it’s important to dive a little further to be sure they aren’t just going through the motions of saying “thank you” for social reasons. Begin by having discussions about what it means to be grateful, and then expand their understanding of appreciation by including more thankfulness components.
The majority of parents, according to the researchers, are focused on what their children do to express thanks. Only 39% of parents encouraged their children to express gratitude in ways that went beyond good manners, despite the fact that 85% of parents stated they encouraged their children to say “thank you.” Furthermore, barely a third of parents inquired about how a present made their children feel, and only 22% inquired about why they thought someone had given them a gift.
Take note of what you have to be grateful for in your life. Are there things for which you should be grateful aside from the presents you’ve received? Are there any people in your life for whom you are grateful?
Consider – What are your thoughts about this present? Do you believe you should repay the person who gave it to you? Do you believe you deserved the present? Do you believe the individual gave you a present because they felt obligated to or because it was something they wanted to do?
Feel – Does receiving this present make you happy? How do you feel on the inside? What about this present that makes you smile?
Is there a way to express your feelings about this gift? Do you want to share the joy you’ve experienced with this gift by giving it to someone else?
When your child receives a physical presence or is shown kindness, start a conversation with them to make them feel more grateful. You may also start a conversation about how you think, feel, and react to the people and things you’re grateful for in your life.
3. Be Kind
There are numerous ways for your youngster to express gratitude to others. This could entail repaying a favour, such as lending a toy to a helpful buddy.
It could also be something as simple as doing yard work for a relative who comes to their basketball games.
Make it obvious that there are numerous methods to express your gratitude for what they do.
Thus these are the three most important ways through which one can teach the importance of Thankfulness to children. Since they are quick learners they can learn through the above ways quite easily. They will learn and grow and it will clearly be visible in their behaviour.
